Stringed instrument



Se t. 2, 1969 PFEIFFER 3,464,304

STBINGED INSTRUMENT Filed July 5, 1967 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 3,464,304 STRINGED INSTRUMENT Helmut Pfeiifer, Herderstrasse 12-14, Stuttgart, Germany Filed July 5, 1967, Ser. No. 651,168

Int. Cl. Gc 3/04 US. Cl. 84-215 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated sounding board bridge is secured on a sounding board in surface-to-surface contact and has an exposed face. At least one taut string extends in predetermined direction across the exposed face. A pair of vibration-transmitting elements are provided spaced from one another in the predetermined direction of the string and each including a portion at least partly embedded in the material of the bridge, and a second portion projecting from the exposed face of the bridge and engaging an increment of the string maintaining the latter spaced from the exposed face. Deflecting means engages an increment of the string intermediate the respective second portions and deflects such additional increment toward the exposed face in the direction normal thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to stringed instruments in general, and more particularly to the type of stringed instruments comprising a sounding board. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to the type of stringed instrument wherein a sounding board bridge is mounted in surface-to-surface contact on a sounding board.

In certain types of stringed instruments wherein a sounding board bridge is mounted in surface-to-surface contact on a sounding board, for instance in upright pianos and in grand pianos where the respective strings extend substantially parallel to the sounding board surface and across the sounding board bridge, it is customary to deflect that portion of the strings which overlies the sounding board bridge. Such deflection is traditionally effected in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the surface of the sounding board, and therefore the surface of the sounding board bridge. In other words, the deflection is in horizontal direction, and the oscillation of the strings includes, as a result of such horizontal deflection, a relatively strong horizontal component of oscillation which, during the propagation of the oscillation in the longitudinal direction of the string, is dampened or lost to a significant extent and thus becomes unavailable for transmission into the sounding board.

Another disadvantage of this type of arrangement is the fact that the pins which are driven into the sounding board bridge at an angle and which engage the strings so as to effect the desired horizontal deflection thereof, frequently work loose because of the constant vibration to which they are subjected. This adversely affects the tuning of the instrument and necessitates returning and/or reair. p While attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages just outlined, none of these attempts have been satisfactory for a variety of reasons. Thus, the need for an improvement in this field has not yet been met and still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides the improvement outlined above.

More particularly, the present invention provides a Patented Sept. 2, 1969 and from there into the sounding board proper, in the direction normal to the general plane of the sounding board.

With the arrangement according to the present invention it is possible to obtain a significant improvement in the tone qualities of stringed instruments of the type in question.

Briefly stated one feature of my invention resides in providing, in a stringed instrument of the type which comprises a sounding board having an upper surface, an elon gated sounding board bridge having a lower surface mounted on the sounding board in surface-to-surface contact and having an exposed face and at least one taut string extending in predetermined direction across the exposed face, the improvement which consists in my provision of a pair of vibration-transmitting elements which are spaced from one another in the predetermined direction of the string. These elements comprise respective first portions which are at least partly embedded in the material of the bridge, and respective second portions which project from the exposed face of the bridge and which each engage an increment of the taut string for maintaining the string spaced from the exposed face. Additionally, I provide deflecting means which engages an additional increment of taut string intermediate the two second portions. This deflecting means deflects this additional increment in the direction toward the exposed face, that is normal to the general plane of the sounding board.

The first portions are advantageously shaft-like or pinlike portions whose length is so selected, in accordance with one concept of the invention, that the are capable of transmitting the vibrations, which they receive from their respective second portions, into the sounding board more effectively than would be the case if these vibrations were transmitted mainly through the material of the sounding board bridge.

Regardless of what configuration the second portions of my vibration-transmitting elements assume, it will always be provided at the outward or trailing ends of the pin members so that, taking into consideration that the taut string overlies the respective second portions and therefore exerts a component of force acting in longitudinal direction of the pin members toward the tips or forward ends thereof, it is clear that it is not possible for my vibration-transmitting elements to work loose because they will always be maintained in their proper positions by the force exerted by the strings.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic partly sectioned view illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a similarly schematic, also partly sectioned fragmentary view illustrating another embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic top-plan view of an arrangement incorporating the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that the embodiment illustrated 3 therein comprises a sounding board 1 which is shown in fragmentary manner. Mounted on a surface of the sounding board 1 is a conventional sounding board bridge 2 whose general configuration is similar to that shown in FIG. 4 where the bridge is indicated with the same reference numeral.

In accordance with the invention, or rather the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in FIG. 1, I provide two pins 6 which are driven into the material of the sounding board bridge 2 and whose heads 11 which in the illustrated embodiment are of substantially hemispherical configuration are spaced from one another in the direction of elongation of the string 10 which extends across the sounding board bridge. The string 10 is tightened in conventional manner and no attempt is made to illustrate how such tightening is accomplished because this does not form part of the invention. The string 10 overlies the heads 11 in engagement therewith. A damper member 3, which may be of various configurations, but which conventionally is of the elongated strip-shaped type illustrated in FIG. 4, is disposed on the side of string 10 which is opposite the side on which the heads 11 engage the string. The damper member 3 is mounted on the sounding board bridge 2 by means of screws 4 which extend through the member 3 into the material of the bridge 2 and it will be evident that the member 3 can be moved toward and away from the upper face of the bridge 2 by rotating the screws 4 in clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Secured at the underside of the damper member 3, that is that side which faces the string 10, is a suitable engaging portion 5 which may be in form of an elongated projecting rib or of a plurality of individual projections and which may be integral with the damper member 3 or may be suitably secured thereto, in which latter case I prefer to utilize a hardenable synthetic plastic material as an adhesive.

As is clearly evident fro-m FIG. 1, the portion or portions 5 engage the string intermediate the spaced-apart heads 11 and deflect the thus-engaged portion of the string 10 in the direction towards the exposed face of the sounding board bridge 2 and thus in the direction normal to the general plane of the sounding board 1. By this deflection I achieve my above-outlined improvements.

It will be understood that the shaft portions or pin members 6 may be integral with the heads 11, or that they may be suitably secured thereto so as to be rigid therewith. It will also be evident that the configuration of the heads 11 need not be hemispherical as illustrated but can be otherwise. Also, the portions 6 and 11 may be of identical material, or they may be of different materials and such materials may be either metallic, or nonmetallic or if preferred, one of these portions may be of metallic material and the other of nonmetallic material. In the latter case I prefer that it be the head 11 which is constituted of nonmetallic material, which should be a synthetic plastic material of suitable hardness.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 differs somewhat from that shown in FIG. 1, and should be considered in conjunction with FIG. 4, which illustrates an exemplary arrangement using the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3. As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, I replace the pins illustrated in FIG. 1 with elements of a different type. Specifically, I provide short bar-shaped members 8 each of which replaces three of the pins shown in FIG. 1. These members 8 are spaced from one another transversely of the elongation of the respective strings 10 as evident from FIG. 4, and I prefer to provide them of semicircular cross-section as illustrated in FIG. 3. Each of the members 8 has an exposed upper surface which is provided with at least one inwardly extending bore. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 I provide three such bores in each of the members 8, but I wish it to be specifically understood that this concept also encompasses the provision of a single bore, two bores, or bores in excess of three. In any event, the bores each comprise a first portion which tapers inwardly of the exposed face of the respective member 8 and a second portion which extends inwardly from the first portion to the face of the member 8 which abuts the sounding board bridge 2. The bores are not separately numbered because the illustration in FIGS. 2 and 3 is so simple and clear that this is not believed to be necessary. Received in the tapering first portion of each of these bores and recessed below the exposed face of the respective member 8, is a complementarily configuration pin head 7 which, in the illus trated embodiment is of frustoconical outline. The shaft 6 provided on the pin head 7 extends again into the material of the sounding board bridge 2 as is the case in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, and may further extend into the material of the sounding board 1 itself, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

.As I have shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the members 8 can be provided with grooves or slots 9 extending transversely of their elongation, that is extending in the direction of the respective strings 10 and these slots 9 are in the illustrated embodiment so arranged as to coincide with the respective pin heads 7. In other words, there are so located and at such depth that the string 10, when it is received in these slots 9, abuts the pin heads 7. FIG. 3 shows that the bottom wall of the respective slots 9 can at least in part be inclined in the direction of elongation of the groove or slot and therefore of the string 10 and it is part of my inventive concept that such bottom wall may comprise two mutually inclined portions which form with one another an angle whose highest point is constituted by the pin head 7.

It goes without saying that I can also provide the pin heads 7 and indeed the pin heads 11 in FIG. 1 with similar slots, reminiscent of the provision of slots in screw heads in which the bit of the screw driver engages. Of course, such slots are provided, just as in the case of the slots 9 for maintaining the strings 10 in proper position.

It is also a part of my inventive concept that the shafts 6 can be integral with the members 8, and further that the respective members 8 can be mounted on the sounding board bridge 2 with one or two of the pins consisting of the portions 6 and 7 and that the string or strings 10 need not under such circumstances directly engage the head or heads 7 but can engage the respective memher 8 at a surface portion thereof which is spaced from the head or heads 7.

It will be understood particularly from the illustration in FIG. 4, that the damper member 3 with its engaging portion or portions 5 again extends intermediate to of the members 8 and deflects the string 10 in the manner in which it is illustrated in FIG. 1.

It goes without saying that in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the members 8 may consist of a material other than the material of the pins comprising the portions 6 and 7, and that such material may be metallic as well as a synthetic plastic material or a non-metallic material in general. Insofar as a metallic material is used either for the members 8, for the heads 7 and/or the pin portions 6, I prefer that it be an alloy having a low coefficient of friction, for instance, brass, bronze or one of the light metals containing a significant portion of magnesium and/ or aluminum or the like.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a stringed instrument, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A stringed instrument of the type comprising a sounding board having an upper surface, an elongated sounding board bridge having a lower surface mounted on said sounding board in surface-to-surface contact and having an exposed face, and at least one taut string extending in predetermined direction across said exposed face, the improvement comprising providing a pair of vibration-transmitting elements spaced from one another in said predetermined direction and including respective first portions at least partly embedded in the material of said bridge and respective second portions projecting from said exposed face each engaging an increment of said taut string and maintaining the latter spaced from said exposed face; and deflecting means engaging an additional increment of said taut string intermediate said second portions and deflecting said additional increment toward said exposed face in direction normal thereto.

2. In an instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said vibration-transmitting elements are pins respectively comprising a shaft and a head, the respective shafts constituting said first portions and the respective heads constituting said second portions.

3. In an instrument as defined in claim 2, wherein said heads are integral with said shafts.

4. In an instrument as defined in claim 2, wherein said shafts are of one material, and said heads of another material.

5. In an instrument as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of said materials is metallic.

6. In an instrument as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of said materials is a synthetic plastic material.

7. In an instrument as defined in claim 2, wherein said heads are of substantially hemispherical outline.

8. In an instrument as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said heads is provided with a groove extending in said predetermined direction and adapted to receive the respective increment of said string, said groove being bounded by a bottom wall engaging said respective increment and comprising at least one portion inclined in said predetermined direction.

9. In an instrument as defined in claim 8; said bottom wall of each groove further comprising an additional portion inclined in said predetermined direction but oppositely to the inclination of said one portion.

10. In an instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said embedded first portions are of elongated rod-shaped configuration and extend normal to said exposed face.

11. In an instrument as defined in claim 10, wherein said first portions terminate in the region of said lower surface.

12. In an instrument as defined in claim 10, wherein said first portions have front ends extending beyond said upper surface and embedded in the material of said sounding board.

13. In an instrument as defined in claim 1; said vibration-transmitting elements each comprising a bar-shaped members extending transversely of said predetermined direction and each having an abutment surface in contact with said exposed face and a free surface opposite said abutment surface, said first portions being integral with the respective member and projecting from the respective abutment surface.

14. In an instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein said members are each provided with at least one bore normal to said free surface and abutment surface and comprising a conically tapering first part extending inwardly from said free surface, and a second part extending inwardly from said first part to said abutment surface; and wherein said first portion of each element comprises a shaft section partly received in said second part and extending into the material of said bridge, and a frustoconical head section received in said first part and integral with said shaft section.

15. In an instrument as defined in claim 14, wherein said head section is recessed inwardly of said free surface of the respective bar-shaped member.

16. In an instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein said bar-shaped members are each provided in the respective free surfaces thereof with at least one groove extending in said predetermined direction and having a bottom wall which abuts the respective increment of said string and constitutes the respective second portion.

17. In an instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein said bar-shaped members are of substantially semi-circular cross section.

18. In an instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein said bar-shaped members are composed of metallic material.

19. In an instrument as defined in claim 18, wherein said metallic material of said bar-shaped member is an alloy having a low coefficient of friction and selected from the group comprising brass, bronze and alloys incorporating magnesium, aluminum and magnesium-aluminum combinations.

20. In an instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein said bar-shaped members are composed of a hard plastic material having a low coefiicient of friction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 239,949 4/1881 Freudentheil 84-188 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner LAWRENCE R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner 

